BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Pete Wicks on why alcohol and women have ruined his life

Strictly’s Pete Wicks was introduced to alcohol at an extremely young age thanks to a job he started while still at school which led to him entering a very adult .

Reality TV star has won over the hearts of many viewers with his entertaining performances and dramatic makeovers in the talent show. His undeniable chemistry and close relationship with professional partner Jowita Przystal has also had fans gripped, with some believing the pair were doing the tango off screen as well as on it.

’s Maura Higgins has sincewith the pair being pictured kissing and cuddling on various dates. Whatever the truth is, Pete is no stranger to being a hit with women and has had a reputation as something of a ladies’ man who enjoys a busy and boozy social life ever since he first appeared on the ITVBe series.

But 36-year-old Pete’s introduction to the world of drinking and the opposite sex came at a shockingly young age. Speaking in a TOWIE interview, The Story of Pete Wicks in 2021, he discussed his early childhood and what life was like for him growing up on the Essex and east London border.

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He described himself as "blonde, fat, quite sociable and happy," before quipping, "I don’t know where it all went wrong." He also revealed that he was "really sporty" in school and used to swim and run nationally as a boy. "I’m not a complete doughnut believe it or not, despite the fact I do reality TV," he said before adding in his typically self-deprecating manner, "I was semi-intelligent - could have done a lot with my life - turns out I didn’t."

He went on to explain how although he "didn’t mind school" he wasn’t very good with authority and being told what to do. It was his first job as a young teenager that really changed things for him. "I started working in a bar as a glass collector when I was about 13 and that opened me up to the world of alcohol, which I really enjoy - I enjoy a lot more than getting wet in a pool," he said before adding: "So yeah drinking changed my life, not sure it was for the better. So then it became more about going out and seeing birds and that. Drinking and women ruined my life as most of you have probably seen."

Pete also spoke about getting into trouble in his youth and when he started coming off the rails. "I was naughty when I got to about eleven. Eleven to seventeen I was a [indecipherable expletive]. But pre-eleven I was cheeky I’d say. Never used to s**t on my own doorstep though - if you get in trouble, do it away from home. There were a few occasions when the police may have knocked on the door for different things, but that’s all in the past. I’m a law-abiding citizen these days... sort of... occasionally."

Cupid’s arrow struck Pete at a very young age too. His first girlfriend was when he was about five and he met her in Lapland. "I fell in love and I think that’s what broke my heart and that’s why I probably can’t commit to any women... from being five... we bonded over a reindeer," he joked.

However he got together with his first "proper" girlfriend when he was around 15 and at the time of the interview, his mum was still in contact with her. "My mum funny enough still speaks to [her], uh lives round the corner to and uh, goes and sees her kids. I mean she’s moved on, she’s got a really happy life because she’s married and got kids and a house and all that sort of stuff and here I am doing the same s**t I’ve done for the past f*****g 12 years," he said.

It seems Pete has made an effort to stay healthy during his time on Strictly though and has quit the booze, for now at least. According to the Sunday Express he revealed he wanted to show people a different side to him and do Jowita proud. "It doesn’t mean I’m never going to drink again though," he said. "The nightclubs will be closing down!"

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